What qualifications do you need to become a patient transporter?

A:

Quick Answer

Qualifications to become a patient transporter include a high school diploma or GED, the ability to perform difficult physical work on a daily basis and the ability to lift at least 25 pounds (at some hospitals). Additionally, patient transporters should not have physical issues that limit their ability to move patients. On the job, they need good communication skills, strong reading comprehension and a professional demeanor.

Keep Learning

No special training is required to become a patient transporter, and many hospitals offer on-the-job training. Candidates can increase their chances of landing a job as a patient transporter by becoming National Association of Healthcare Transport Management certified. The training required for this certification includes three classes: Ethics in the Workplace, Skill Building and Transportation and Technical Skills.

Patient transporters are on their feet 90 percent of the time they are working. Job duties consist of moving patients, equipment, lab specimens and mail. Patient transporters must also properly identify patients and ensure that the right patient is transported to the right location, update nursing personnel on the location of patients and clean and disinfect equipment. As of 2014, the average pay for a patient transporter is $8 to $13 per hour, and demand for patient transporters is expected to grow.